11-12 gr unique or green dot, 11/16 oz in gun club hull. Set rammer tube to just set wad against powder. Will give slightly dished crimp. 5/8 oz needs a bit of filler. Won't burn real clean but fun to shoot. I too love the 410 and I'll admit it, I'm a recoil wimp. I get a head ache with 50 greater than 3/4 oz loads in any of my o/u's. If you are loading with a MEC you can shim the shot cavity on a 7/8 oz shot bar with a piece of 20ga hull and get 11/16 oz to try it out.

 

Thanks and my bad for what looks to be repeating some other similar threads....

The subtle issue is I am looking for the *absolute* lightest versus just light loads... I want to lower the recoil to the min albeit within safe and usable specs.

There is a naive part of me that says just keep going down in powder weight until it doesn't function then add a bit, but I know this is not safe. So no flames please.

 

The subtle issue is I am looking for the *absolute* lightest versus just light loads... I want to lower the recoil to the min albeit within safe and usable specs.

You are looking for a balance of lower speed out the muzzle, lower weight of shot charge and higher mass of the shooting implement.

The best factory load I have found for low recoil in 20 gauge is the Fiochhi 3/4 oz. 1,075 f/s 'training' loads. Shooting the Fiochs out of a 7 lb. Browning Cynergy Sporting with a Browning Reactar recoil pad in my shooting vest results in a shooting experience that is better recoil-wise than the .410 Cynergy Field (6.0 lbs) I own shooting 1/2 oz. at 1,300 f/s

Maybe try the Fiochs and if you like the result, use a hand load recipe that gets you as close as possible to 1,075 f/s?

 

Btw go ahead and say 28 gauge.... Give me an excuse to get one, but I still want a super light 20 load.

P.S.: If you want a really nice low-recoil experience, Win has an ultra-low recoil 12 ga offering - 7/8 oz at 980 f/s. Of course, you would have to get a 12 gauge, though.

 

My only 20 gauge is the Beretta BL-3 I bought used in 1974. It weighs a bit over 6 lbs. and that makes 7/8 ounce target loads kick a bit more than I like. I have been making 3/4 ounce loads for years now and they break targets as well as the 7/8 ounce loads. I bought some of the new 3/4 ounce wads but haven't used them yet. Try loading 3/4 ounce ammo for target shooting - you'll like it.

 

Hello: 13.1 grains of Green Dot for 3/4oz loads is a soft shooter. Save the 20/28 for your new 28 gauge gun. Thanks, Eric

 

Load for the 3/4 oz load and simply drop 5/8 oz shot. I assume one would use a 3/4 oz bar for MEC and shim as stated earlier, and whatever adjustments for crimp. I use strictly LLA by choice. My loads are 13.5 green dot and 5/8 oz shot. Perform really well if I do my part. These also cycle well in my Franchi 620. Enjoy.
Hevi 20 Gauge

 

2-3/4 Federal Top Gun Hull
FED209A
16.2 gr Unique
CB1075-20
5/8 oz. of 8-1/2 (265 gr.)

Data originated from a 3/4 oz. load on the label of CB1075-20 wads. Light drop the shot.
These chrono at 1,218 avg.

edited to add-
http://www.claybusterwads.com/index.php ... -cb1075-20

 

Here's what I use:

Remington STS, GC, or Winchester AA hulls
Any 209 Primer
15gr Green Dot
CF 3/4 oz wad
5/8 oz No. 9 shot
.030" overshot card

I use this for skeet. Importantly, it will cycle my 1100LW.

Dan